Full Description
Elvis Presley and Richard Nixon are two of the most important and controversial figures of the twentieth century. Although fame came to them in very different ways, they rose from very similar backgrounds of poverty to seek the American Dream. These two remarkable men both had to face falls from grace, but while Nixon rebounded from Watergate to regain a reputation as a distinguished elder statesman, Elvis was destroyed by the pressures of fame, only to have his image restored after his death.
Here, for the first time, the remarkable parallels in their lives are examined, balanced on the point of their historic December 21, 1970, meeting. Their similarities and differences as American icons are analyzed, and numerous photographs, including all those taken during their meeting, are included. Together, the stories of these two men form part of the essence of American culture.
Contents
Table of Contents
Introduction
1. From a Jack to a King
2. Education Makes the Man
3. A Watchful Eye on the Future
4. Let the Games Begin
5. The Shaping of a Hero
6. The Survival of the Fittest
7. The New America: Hippies, Drugs, and Vietnam
8. The King Meets the President
9. No Man Is an Island
10. The Cancer Within
11. My Way: The Lonely Road to Recovery
Conclusion: Let the Record Show
Appendix: Documents and Photographs Pertaining to the Presley-Nixon Meeting
Notes
Select Bibliography
Index
